Account & Security Alerts FAQs

Alerts FAQs

Stay informed on important activity of your checking, savings, and money market accounts as well as loans, lines of credit, credit cards, and more. You have the option to receive free* alerts by email, text message, or both.

Deposit and security alerts are available seven days a week (including holidays)Loan, line of credit, mortgage and the credit card payment due date and payment received alerts are available seven days a week (including holidays)Credit card alerts for balances and transactions are available six days a week (including holidays) - no alerts will be sent on Sunday

The amount shown in the alert reflects the transaction amount sent by the merchant for approval or authorization. The final posted amount may vary. Some merchants, such as hotels and car rental agencies, may request an authorization for an estimated amount of the charges you may incur. Other merchants, like gas stations, may send a $1 authorization request to check that your card is open and active. In an effort to make your alerts timely and relevant we will alert on your approval or authorization amount and not the final posted amount. However, please note that the final posted amount will be reflected in your online banking available balance.

No. We will never send any identifying account information, and account numbers are masked for your protection. FirstMerit will never ask you to provide information through email or text.

If you are asked to provide any personal or account information through email or text message and the requester appears to be from FirstMerit, please report it to identitytheft@firstmerit.com immediately or call 888-554-4362.

Depending on how your account was set up, some mobile phone service providers block these type of messages. If this happens to you please call your mobile phone service provider and request that they stop blocking messages from the FirstMerit short code 89836 (TXTFM).

Low Balance Alert with Transfer Option

The low balance alert text message will provide you with a unique transfer code and the nickname(s) of eligible funding accounts. You simply text: the transfer code (TFR), the dollar amount you want to transfer and the nickname of the funding account.For example: For example: TFR 100 SAV1 (please be sure to include spaces between the transfer code, the dollar amount and the account nickname).

If you have only one account, there will not be any other funding accounts available therefore you will not have the option to transfer. Eligible funding accounts include: FirstMerit checking, savings, money market, health savings accounts and home equity lines of credit.

No. The transfer code received in the low balance alert is only valid for a one-time transfer. (If you need to transfer more/less money, please log in to online banking/mobile banking to transfer additional money).

The low balance alert is sent once per day IF your account balance dips below your set dollar threshold. If your account receives multiple transactions that cause your balance to go above your set threshold and then fall below that threshold again, you will then receive another low balance alert.

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* FirstMerit does not charge for alerts. However, your internet or mobile service provider may charge for sending and receiving alerts. Check with your service provider for details on specific fees and charges that may apply.

Please note: Alerts delivery may be subject to delays, including service outages and connection issues.